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Welcome to the Providence City Council website.

Here you will find information about the activities and initiatives of the legislative branch of Providence’s government. From Council meetings to neighborhood meetings, the members of the City Council are committed to taking action to improve the quality of life for every Providence resident.

Providence has vast cultural, artistic, and historical assets, which the Council seeks to enhance as we move forward, conducting the business of the people with integrity, transparency, and efficiency.

We encourage you to get involved in your community, and to make your voices heard by your elected officials on the Council. We are here to serve.

Providence, RI (June 21, 2018) – Councilman Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. tonight introduced an ordinance that would make it illegal for the commercial sale of dogs and cats. It should be noted that the ordinance specifically allows for commercial pet stores to keep and facilitate the adoption of dogs and cats from animal shelters, humane societies, and non-profit rescue organizations.

“We’ve all seen and read of the horrors of puppy mills in the United States,” stated City Council Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. “For the better part of a year I have worked on this ordinance, and I am very proud to have it passed for the first time tonight. As a pet lover, and as an advocate and board member of Friends of Providence Animal Control I felt a responsibility to ensure the safety and humane treatment of our four-legged friends.”

The ordinance aligns with State standards and establishes exceptions to the spay/neuter law for thoroughbred dogs and dogs with health concerns (letter from veterinarian required). It also creates an additional Dog Permit allowing the owner to keep 4+ dogs, so long as certain health and safety standards have been met.

In passing this ordinance, Providence will join 280 other jurisdictions across the US and Canada to ban the commercial sale of dogs and cats. There is a growing consensus that the best way to stop the proliferation of puppy mills is to cut the demand for them by prohibiting commercial sales. Albuquerque, NM became the first US jurisdiction to ban commercial sales of dog and cats in 2006. In Rhode Island, both East Providence (2014) and Warwick (2017) have also passed bans on the commercial sale of dogs and cats. Other Jurisdictions with such a ban include: Austin, TX (2010), Boston, MA (2016), Cambridge, MA (2017), California (statewide ban, 2017), Philadelphia (2016) and Pittsburgh (2015).

The ordinance was written in close consultation with the Friends of Providence Animal Control and the Rhode Island SPCA.

Fiscally responsible budget holds the line on taxes, implements public safety enhancement programs, preserves historical assets, improves quality of life in every Providence neighborhood

PROVIDENCE, RI (June 18, 2018) — The Providence City Council Committee on Finance tonight voted approve the recommendation of the FY2019 $748 Million city budget, which is now forwarded to the City Council for passage.

The budget is the result of collaboration between the City Council and City Administration with the ultimate goal of producing a fiscally responsible budget that includes no tax increases; invests in schools, safety and neighborhoods; enhances public safety; preserves significant historical assets; and improves the quality of life in every Providence neighborhood.

“I am pleased to announce that we are holding the line on tax increases, ensuring that our yearly fiduciary responsibility to the pension fund is met in full, and investing in quality of life initiatives to benefit all Providence neighborhoods – like the Council’s initiative to save the Federal Hill fountain located in DePasquale Plaza,” said Committee on Finance Chairman and Council Majority Leader John Igliozzi. “I am grateful for the hard work of the Finance Committee and for the cooperation of every City department that sat before us. The budget process is not easy, sometimes even contentious; but in the end we all want the same thing – a budget that efficiently and effectively utilizes taxpayer dollars and serves the people of Providence – and we believe we have achieved that end.”

“The review and passage of the budget is one of the most important duties of the City Council, and this budget prioritizes spending to support our public schools and enhance safety and quality of life in all city neighborhoods,” stated Council President David A. Salvatore. “Every year the Committee on Finance is tasked with reviewing the budget and ensuring that it serves the constituents of our city. The process is inclusive and I am proud of the way this body has worked to ensure those principles.”

Council-led budget initiatives include:

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Holding the line on all tax rates, providing residents and business owners with the certainty they need to prosper.

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No less than 35% of the revenue garnered from portable speed camera violations will be used on school safety and other traffic calming measures. The goal of the speed cameras was always to make Providence streets and schools safer, and the City Council has made this a priority.

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Restored Neighborhood Infrastructure Fund (NIF) to help ensure that any unexpected brick and mortar projects that arise in FY 2019 can be addressed. This fund has a positive impact on our neighborhoods and helps to improve the quality of life for all residents of Providence.

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Enhancing the quality of life in Providence neighborhoods and improving city services through infrastructure improvements, public safety initiatives, and school and parks improvements.

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Saving, preserving and maintaining Providence’s beloved historical landmarks, including the fountain in Federal Hill’s DePasquale Plaza, as well as other significant monuments throughout the City.

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Bringing the City’s original charter back to City Hall for display to the public, as well as ensuring the preservation of important historical City artifacts.

The City Council will hold special meetings on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, where the budget will receive its first vote from the Council. Once passed, the second and final vote will take place on Friday, June 22, 2018.

Providence, RI (June 13, 2018) – Councilman Seth Yurdin will introduce a resolution opposing House Bill 8123 and Senate Bill 2838 at the June 21, 2018, City Council meeting. These companion bills would “authorize any municipal water supply system and any regional water quality management district commission to enter into an agreement called a ‘transaction’ enabling certain water supply systems to merge and be deemed a public utility.”

“If this proposal is approved, it will allow for the “monetization” of the Providence Water Supply Board (PWSB) at the expense of the residents by permitting the City to transfer control of the PWSB to an improperly regulated third-party operator,” stated Councilman Seth Yurdin. “This water-sale-scheme does not safeguard residents from unfair rate increases, fails to protect our environment, and does not ensure that city residents have safe, high-quality drinking water.”

Yurdin is not the only person to oppose these bills. Several environmental advocates, government watchdog groups, and public policy experts, including the Conservation Law Foundation, the Burrillville Land Trust, The Rhode Island Association of Conservation Commissions, and the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council each have expressed deep opposition.

Under H8123 and S2838, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) would have no power to review transactions and would be prohibited from affecting rate increases “in any way” for five years. Removing the PUC’s authority to review transactions and reject rate increases leaves the residents and ratepayers exposed to potentially significant and unaffordable rate increases. These bills also contain no environmental protections for the Scituate Reservoir watershed, nor do they have any provisions for ensuring the water quality of the reservoir.

In reports from The New York Times and Heavy.com and from environmental groups like Food & Water Watch, we have seen over and over that privately owned water utility services cost the public significantly more than publicly owned and operated water utilities.